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Yellowknife forum urges action to turn northern potential into national agenda
YELLOWKNIFE — Leaders from government, industry, labour and academia gathered in Yellowknife this week for the first Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC) meeting ever held in Canada’s North, calling for infrastructure and investment that treat the Arctic as a national priority rather than a frontier.
The fall forum, themed True North, Strong and Free, focused on how Canada can turn northern potential into national purpose. Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen opened the event by urging provinces and territories to work together to build economic corridors that will benefit the entire country.
Long-held aspirations around resource development, Arctic sovereignty and better transportation links are now pressing issues as climate change, global competition and residential growth reshape the North’s role in Canadian policy. Participants heard that warming temperatures and shifting permafrost are altering construction standards, community life and security planning across the region.
Sessions focused on national infrastructure such as roads, ports and digital networks, the impact of climate change on permafrost and northern communities, rising geopolitical interest in the Arctic, and the importance of Indigenous-led development and stewardship. Speakers agreed that infrastructure is no longer just about projects — it is tied to sovereignty, climate resilience and long-term prosperity.
Dreeshen highlighted Alberta’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Northwest Territories on northern economic corridors. He said the agreement is a step toward strengthening future trade routes and improving access to northern resources.
A central message emerged as the forum wrapped up: decisions made now on infrastructure, security, climate adaptation and Indigenous partnerships will define Canada’s place in the Arctic. Delegates left Yellowknife with a shared view that the North must be included in action, not just conversation.
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